 "Photo: DN PHOTO ALEX HUTCHISON")
Former tight end and captain Madaris Grant was denied a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, Ball State University announced Wednesday.
Grant will remain with the Cardinals as a student assistant coach this year while he continues to rehab his torn ACL. He was injured in the first quarter opening night against the University of North Texas last September.
Coach Stan Parrish had been confident Grant would return to the field this season, but said Wednesday his optimism may have been misguided. Parrish said the NCAA requires two debilitating injuries to grant a sixth year and Grant voluntarily sat out his freshman year as a redshirt.
“A lot of us are vague on the criteria for those things because we don’t deal with them every day,” Parrish said. “Personally I feel terrible for him.”
Parrish initially announced Grant would apply for the extra year of eligibility in September, along with MiQuale Lewis. The running back received word in January he would receive a fifth season of eligibility.
Grant’s chances of getting an extra year were always worse than Lewis’. In September, Pat Quinn, associate athletic director for compliance and operations, said Grant’s initial redshirt made his request more difficult.
Ball State was so sure Grant and Lewis would both return this year that they weren’t honored on Senior Night. Instead, Grant will end his career with 39 receptions for 405 yards and two touchdowns.
Parrish said Grant still has hopes of getting a chance in the NFL and will continue to prepare for that chance. During that time, he will finish his degree and help mentor the Cardinals’ young tight ends.
“Sometimes his advice to them is a heck of a lot more valuable than anyone else’s,” Parrish said.
Without Grant in the depth chart, sophomore Zane Fakes likely rises to the top. Fakes was supposed to redshirt last year as he converted to H-back from running back, where he played in high school. Without Grant, Fakes was forced into action. He caught 10 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown.
Two tight ends are in Ball State’s incoming freshman class. Parrish said he isn’t sure how the NCAA’s decision will affect David Schneider or Derek Orr, but any redshirt plans for them may be altered as well. The Cardinals also have redshirt freshman Jacob Green, who was injured most of last year.
Parrish said he expects the whole group to benefit from Grant’s experience.
“Now that he’s not just an injured player, he can have a bigger role with those guys,” Parrish said. “We have two outstanding young tight ends in this class. He’ll be able to help them in that transition.”
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